Latest news from the Pacific Northwest

Spokane judge vacates convictions

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Three Spokane men serving time for robbery and other crimes are set to be freed after a judge vacated their 2009 convictions.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Michael Price on Friday said new evidence raised doubts about whether a jury would have convicted Paul Statler, Tyler Gassman and Robert Larson. He threw out their 2009 convictions for robbery, assault and drive-by shooting.

The Spokesman Review says (
http://is.gd/lzKFsO) the men have all spent more than four years in jail or prison following their 2008 arrests. They have argued they were framed by a snitch who wanted a reduced prison term.

The new evidence was presented by attorneys on behalf of the Innocence Project Northwest Clinic at the University of Washington.

A deputy prosecutor declined to say whether his office would pursue a new trial.